Alessandra Volta and the First Battery

Europe in the 18^th century was a time filled with new inventions and ideas. People developed new scientific methods, math formulas, architectural designs, and many other amazing things.  Born right into the middle of this time was a child named Alessandra Volta. Volta became one of the leaders of discovery during this time period in Europe.  While he was an important scientist in the field of electricity, he was certainly not the first person to study electricity, as people like Benjamin Franklin preceded him.  Volta's work with electricity inspired other scientists and led to more inventions.  Alessandra Volta was one of many pioneers of the electrical age, and his invention of the electric battery distinguished him as a one of the most prominent and influential scientists of all time.

                        Alessandra Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta was born on February 18, 1745 in the town of Como, Italy (Kline 446).  He went to public schools and studied to become a physicist.  Eventually, he became a physics professor at the Royal School in Como.  Volta’s career started an electrical revolution that began in 1775 with his invention of the electrophorus, an instrument that produced static electricity.  His most famous invention came about twenty five years later. The most important contribution Volta gave to the world of electricity and science is the electric battery.  This first battery is now known as the voltaic pile.  (Alessandra 1)

            To make his battery, Volta used a variety of materials.  He started by placing metal discs of materials like zinc and copper on moist objects like cloth or cardboard.  He used brine or other acidic solutions to moisten the material.  The metals discs were alternated with the moist cloth and he found that the taller the pile, the more electricity was produced.  (Bellis 1)  The battery inspired an invention revolution.  Soon after Volta’s announcement of the battery, many new inventions that used the battery for different purposes began appearing. 

The scientific career of Alessandra Volta made him well-known and a recognized person. Volta was honored with many medals and awards.  Volta’s most remembered distinction is something that remains with us to this very day.  Alessandra Volta had the electrical unit, the “volt”, named in his honor (Kline 446).  This achievement symbolizes all the work and effort Volta put into his studies and is a tribute to his greatness and shows how much influence Volta’s battery had in creating new ideas.  The original battery went through a series of improvements that are still taking place today. The invention of the first battery had an economic and social impact that we are still experiencing today.  Look around today and see how many objects we use every day that run on batteries.  Cars, cell phones, laptop computers, calculators, Ipods, planes, satellites, hearing aids, are just a few of the items we have in our world today that rely on batteries to function.  Just imagine what life would be like without batteries!

Bibliography:

Kline, Ronald R. “Volta, Alessandro.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2011 ed. Print.

Brodd, Ralph J., et al. “Battery.” World Book Encyclopedia. 2011 ed. Print.

“Alessandra Volta.” Ideafinder.com. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htm>

Bellis, Mary. “Battery.” About.com. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/History-Of-The-Battery.htm>

Schlesinger, Henry. The Battery. New York: Smithsonian Books, 2010. Print.

Curley, Robert, ed. The 100 Most Influential Inventors of All Time. New York: Britannica, 2010. Print.

Pancaldi, Giuliano. Volta: Science and Culture in the Age of Enlightenment. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2003. Print.

DIRECTIONS

1.  Take a copper disk from the supply tray and clip the red lead with the alligator clip to the disk.

2.  Plug the red lead into the red ‘V’ receptacle on the voltmeter.  Plug the black lead into the black receptacle in the voltmeter.

3.  Take a cotton pad from the supply tray.  Squeeze a little lemon juice on the pad until the pad is moist, not soaked.  Place the moist cotton pad on the copper disk.

4.  Now, place an aluminum disk on top of the moist cotton pad.

5.  Take the end of the black lead and touch it to the aluminum disk.

6.  Observe the reading on the voltmeter.

To make a more powerful (higher voltage) battery, attach more of the disks and pads.

1.  Start by placing a second copper disk on top of the aluminum disk.

2.  Then, place another lemon juice pad on top of your second copper disk.

3.  Place a second aluminum disk on top of the second lemon pad.

4.  Each time you add another battery, the voltage should about double. 

5.  Repeat this same pattern if you would like to continue increasing the voltage.  

The Age of Exploration

From around 1400 to 1600, European explorers set out to explore the world and this period was known as the Age of Exploration.  These explorers found out new things about the world, shared their discoveries with others, and changed the way people viewed the world.  Explorers traveled the world for many reasons including fortune, adventure, knowledge, land, and sometimes to promote Christianity.  Spain and Portugal were the first nations to send out explorers.  Eventually England, France, and the Netherlands sent out explorers as well.  Some of the most famous explorers of this time were Hernan Cortes, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan.  Exploration changed the European economy.  Many more goods were available and trade boomed.  The economic system of Europe grew into Capitalism.  Exploration also created some tension between the European nations as they tried to be the first to claim land, resources, and goods.  Eventually a war broke out between England and Spain.  Exploration also affected the Americas greatly.  Many people died in the Americas and the Inca and Aztec Empires were destroyed as European nations set up colonies and took over the land.   This Age of Exploration changed history for better or worse.

Europe Transformed

Many factors contributed to decline of the Western Roman empire.  One of the major factors was German invaders.  As troops were sent to the eastern half of the empire to aid in the constant war with Persia, German tribes and armies from the other side of the Rhine and Danube rivers invaded and conquered large parts of the western empire.  As the Germans lived in this territory, German leaders worked their way up the chain of command to eventually lead the Western Roman empire.  Too much money was being spent on the army and protecting Rome.  Taxes were increased to compensate for the extra spending on the army.  The increased taxes put a burden on the people of the western empire.  The Huns were a another reason for the decline of the Western Roman empire.  The Huns invaded the empire and fought their way to Rome.  While the Huns were camped outside the city, the rulers from inside Rome bribed the Huns with large sums of money to leave the city alone.  Surprisingly, they agreed.  However, this left the government with no money which put more strain on the society.  Some historians believe disease was another reason for the decline of the Western Roman Empire.  Hans Zinsser wrote, "A concentration of large populations in cities, free communication with all other parts of the world..., constant and extensive military activity involving the mobilization of armies in camps, and the movement of large forces back and forth from all corners of the world these alone are conditions which inevitably determine the outbreak of epidemic disease.  And against such outbreaks there was absolutely mo defense available at the time."  All of these factors led to the decline of the Western Roman Empire and changed the way people lived there.  

      One way life was changed in Western Europe was the growth of Christianity.  Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity a week before he died.  Money that could have been spent on temples, shrines, gods, and goddesses was now given to Christians and used for Christian buildings.  Another way life changed in Western Europe was the decline of the economy.  Increased taxes put a burden on the people.  Higher taxes were not enough to help the government so they devalued the currency.  This caused inflation.  The increased prices made it very hard for people to buy neccesary goods to survive.  Also, for many years, Western Europe was ruled by a Roman, but over time, the leaders became German.   As more and more land was conquered by the Germans, Roman culture was lost, and Latin, the language of the Romans, was lost.   Another hardship on the people of Western Europe was the fact that when the Vandals conquered Carthage, a city in North Africa, they stopped supplying grain to the city of Rome.  This caused a problem for the Romans because it was their main supply of food.  People now struggle to find food.  As they empire fell apart, the lives of the Romans deteriorated.

Medieval Middle East Medicinal Contributions

Medieval Middle Eastern Doctors started a lot of the techniques doctors use today.  Muslims created the worlds first hospitals for doctors to treat patients in.  Our doctors today still practice in hospitals.  Doctors would treat ailments through drugs, diet, and exercise similar to doctors today.  Medieval doctors had drugs to dull pain, clean wounds, heal wounds, and put you to sleep like common drugs doctors still use today.  An important discovery during this time by Al - Razi was that infectious diseases are caused by bacteria.  This helped doctors begin to diagnose and treat deadly diseases.

Medieval Middle East Mathematics Contributions

Something a mathematician uses today is algebra.  Algebra helped mathematicians find unknown numbers.  Algebra was created by an Arab named Al - Khwarizmi.  His book on algebra was used in schools all the way up to the 18th century.  Medieval Muslims created the number zero.  Mathematicians needed to know the concept of zero.  This helped them write larger numbers.  The number zero is still used in our daily life.

The Historical Relationship Between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity

Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are all monotheistic religions whose followers worship the same God.  Muhammad founded Islam,  Moses founded Judaism, and Jesus founded Christianity.  Judaism was the first monotheistic religion, then Christianity followed after.  Jesus was a Jew and the people who believed that Jesus was the son of God became the Christians.  Muhammad was the last prophet and created Islam.  Muhammad taught his followers that all people who worshiped one God are equal.  Abraham was the person who started the practice of monotheism.  All three of these religions developed from his idea.

The Importance of the Qur'an

The Qur'an is the holy book of the Muslims.  The poetic beauty of this book helped attract new believers to convert to Islam. The Qur'an tell the stories of Muhammad.

The Life and teachings of Muhammad

Muhammad was born in 570 C.E. in the city of Mekkah.  He was born into a humble family in the Hashim clan.  Before he was born, his father died, and when he was young his mother and grandfather died.  He then lived with his uncle and traveled around on merchant trips with him.  When he was old enough, he became a merchant of his own.  When he was 25 he married Khadijah, a widow.  In 610 C.E., Muhammad started to go to pray in a cave in the mountains.  This is where the angel Gabriel told Muhammad he was the messenger of God.  Muhammad then founded the Islamic religion.  Muhammad's wife was the first to convert to Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion.  For 22 years, Muhammad received messages from God through the angel Gabriel.  Muhammad soon had a small group of followers called Muslims.  Muhammad began to preach Islam to the other Makkans.  People in his clan and other clans began to become followers.  The leaders of Mekkah did not agree with Muhammad and thought he was gaining too much power, so they started a boycott against Muhammad.  Because of the boycott many of the Muslims began to starve, and his wife died because of this.  After these hard times, Muhammad went on a journey known as The Night Journey to Jerusalem.  There he prayed with other prophets such as Jesus and moses, and then God took him up to Heaven.